How’s your Christmas joy?
How about your Christmas peace?
What about your Christmas hope?
For many women, joy and peace seem hard to come by – especially during the hustle and bustle of December. As our “To Do” lists lengthens, our sense of well-being shortens. Long lines, big bills and the quest to create the perfect holiday memories can bear down on our already weary shoulders.
If we let it.
Jesus has words for women who are run ragged, physically, emotionally or spiritually. Come to me and I will give you rest.
But Lord, I’m just too busy, you think. Too busy for church today; I need to hit the stores early. Too busy to read my Bible; I need to address Christmas cards. Too busy to pray, I need to wrap gifts and decorate the house and bake the cookies and plan for the party and…..
Is doing all that stuff without connecting to Jesus what you really need?
Come to me, Christ whispers. And you will find rest for your souls.
So today, if you are short on joy or peace or hope know this: you won’t find these things at the mall. You won’t find them by checking items off your “to do” list. You won’t find them online.
You will find the joy, the peace and the hope you’re longing for this season when you take a few minutes to quiet your soul and be with Jesus. From today until Christmas try this: spend five minutes with Jesus every day. You can read a chapter in the Bible in four minutes or less. Spend one minute praying. Before you begin each day, picture God sitting across from you and ask Him “what would You say to me today if you were here with me right now?” (Which, of course, he is!) Then, open your Bible and listen for God’s personal word to you.
Then, in the midst of cooking and shopping and decorating and addressing and wrapping, you’ll have the joy and hope and peace you long for. Because you won’t be doing all these things alone. You’ll be doing your life with Emmanuel.
God
With
You.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Mathew 11:28-29)
